I find it fitting that the title of this post coincides with MLK Jr’s day. A very fitting day, for a very fitting man. A man with a vision, a man with a dream. Take a brief moment and try to comprehend the tenacity of man, just in general. Take another moment and try to comprehend the tenacity of man, except this time with a dream. My money is on the man with the dream, every time. There isn’t a mountain too tall, or an ocean too wide that a man with a dream can’t overcome, come hell or high water.

Please keep this in mind as I continue on…

This has been a topic I’ve been wanting to voice my opinion on for quite some time and I think now is a good of a time as any.

My Education.

I graduated WestWood College in October of 2005, with my bachelors in Game Software Development, I worked 50 hours a week so I could afford to eat and live, and to be honest, I’ve accumulated quite a substantial amount of student debt. In fact, 3 times more than the national average of debt had I gone to a conventional not for profit college. I felt very uneasy in many regards. One of which was the pass/fail rate in which anybody with a pulse would pass. I always felt that if students were given(and by given earned) non passing grades, that they were always passed because that meant the college would earn another paycheck the next semester the failing student enrolled in. The job fairs were a joke in that FedEx, UPS, 7-Eleven were the only attendants. I was lied to when my recruiter came to my home town, stating that my credits would transfer to a public school, only to find out that a few semesters in that it wasn’t the case. 100% career placement was more like 2%, and the other 98% they considered working at FedEx part of career placement.

Even after all that, the grand daddy for me personally of complaints.  When people ask me where I went to school, I feel embarrassed to say WestWood. The typical response is, “Oh, what is that?”, and then a five minute conversation ensues usually pertaining to it’s location, that yes it is a bachelors and it was in Software Development, and that contrary to what you might think.

It’s not all that horrible. Part of that was a rant and now that I’m off my soapbox let me say that WestWood wasn’t all that terrible. I know, even after all that right?

I’ve learned quite a bit with my short time here on this earth, and one thing I’ve learned is when your stuck in a deep, crappy hole, the story for a blog post is always more interesting when you have to scratch and claw your way out, then if somebody drops you a rope and pulls you out. And what do I mean by that?

During college I had to work. Alot. 50+ hours at a craptastic job no less at DishNetwork. Ask me while I was working there if I would appreciate it years down the road and I probably would have laughed in your face. Not only did it make me appreciate such jobs I’ve had and have, it raises an eye brow or two when I go in for my interviews say I worked there for 2 years and survived so long. I graduated a year or so earlier than other friends of mine who went in for similar degrees at conventional colleges, and furthermore, my first day of class I was programming. Conventional college it took 2 years in order to even start any programming, but at the end of the day, when the tallies are counted. for every 1 pro I can think of going for WestWood, I could count 100 cons.

That’s not to say that what I’ve seen(and keep in mind I have 0 experience) with public not for profit colleges have their faults too, and quite a bit of faults too. The vast majority of people I’ve been in my life who have had a sense of entitlement had public educations. Also, 9 out of the top 10 party schools are public schools. In most cases, the first year or two youre required to live on campus, youre in a classroom with 500 other people with a professor couldn’t tell you your name. Your learning about 18th century poets when your degree is computer science to satisfy some accrediation requirements. I’ve known more than my fair share of people who only passed their courses because of the year end test they passed, even though they showed up for 0 classes.

I’m not attacking conventional colleges at all. In fact, if anybody were to ask for my honest opinion, I’d recommend going to a conventional public not for profit college 100% over say the route I ended up taking. However, I want to be clear, it doesn’t mean I regret my decesion, not in the least, it just means if I could advise somebody to do it differently, I would.

Why you ask? It’s simple.

I firmly believe that you could lock certain people in a dark room for 4 years, and when they leave that room, they are 100 times better off than than those who spent the same 4 years in college. It doesn’t matter what college and it doesnt matter how much 1 on 1 interaction they’ve had with instructors. One of the smartest guys I’ve ever known doesn’t have a college education, and to be frank, he doesn’t need one either. It doesn’t matter what college you go to, because it’s what you put into it. You’re a fool to think you will try harder at a college that forces you to, as apposed to a college that doesn’t. Those who will be forced to try harder, will figure out the easiest way to get by, and that’s true whever these people are going to school.

I know many succesfull people who went to both conventional colleges and I know many succesfull people who went to Westwood. I know many people who have failed and failed miserably at both WestWood and at conventional colleges, and you know what the difference is? The difference isn’t because WestWood is crappy, or because conventional colleges are so great. It’s all relative. The difference?

The difference is in the dream.

The tenacity of man is incredible, but the tenacity of man with a dream. Now that’s powerful.

• Clean the lint trap. - Something that should be taken very seriously. The lint trap in your local campus/laundry mat should be cleaned to provide the highest level of heat! This tip alone could save you the 3 easy payments of 49.99$ quarters at a time! While I’m on the topic of laundry, remove all tissue/kleenex from your pockets before washing any fleece garments. After hours of removing fuzz from your garments, you would have wished you listened to me.
  • Freebie – While we are on the topic of cleaning, NEVER, and I mean NEVER put regular soap in a dishwasher. If you do, prepare a video camera and a 1 minute spot on youtube.
• Spare no expense. – This could also be filed under, “Do it right the first time”, so on and so fourth. If your going to buy something, get the brand/make/model you want with the appropriate bells and whistles. It helps with buyers remorse. It also helps in that when you do go back to buy the object you want months later, your not out the cost of the first item.
  • Example: You want some music playing device. Instead of going after the coveted ipod(200$), you go after the cheap sony xxx(50$) with half the features. You decide to save 50$ and go cheap. 3 months later you end up what a POS it is, and get the good stuff. Well guess what? The ipod still costs 200$, and you just forked out 50$ extra. Buy the ipod the first time and you saved yourself 50$ in the long run….. interesting. 50$. Look at that, 1 of the 3 payments you just payed for. Pretty easy eh?
• Shit or get off the Pot – Pretty self explanatory.  Next time you have constipation, you’ll be there for hours, without dropping off even a single brown to the superbowl. This handy little tip will save you days off the pot, days that you’ll waste sitting on the John. Days I tell you days!
  • This is a 2 for 1 special(see I’m throwing in free stuff left and right here) – Shit or get off the Pot. Either do what it is you need to do, and do not hesitate, or re-evaluate the situation from afar and let somebody else beat you too it. It’s pretty simple for those that can’t read between the lines. Take a shit. Leap before you look. Obviously, YMMV, however it’s been my experience that the moment you hesitate on opportunities, is the moment you see somebody else basking in the glory.
• Don’t become a movie critic. – Benefit from my mistake. I watched far to many movies growing up(as my mother was a movie store manager) and I’ve since become a movie critic. Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, the vast majority of movies just don’t stack up to the awesomeness that includes(but not limited to) Predator, Terminator, BraveHeart, ect …. It’s impossible for me not to cringe at movies these days, and if anything it’s an easy waste of 10 bucks.
• Gas over Charcoal Grill – Buying a grill is a great investment and will provide you countless tasty meals. However, when finding the right grill, make sure it’s gas. Gas is cheap, it’s quick to get going and quick to get hot. After a few meals cooked on it, it gets the same awesome flavoring that charcoal has, except now it’s super easy to get started.
• Enjoy the little things. - I’ve always had a way of enjoying the simple things in life. A nice cold diet coke for breakfast. Payday. A full tank of gas. As chris rock says, “life is short? Not’s it’s not, they are lying! it’s loooooong! it’s loooong long long long long! Especially when your miserable”. It’s the truth, life will give you plenty of things to be unhappy about, trust me, sooner or later, their will be bumps in the road. Why not enjoy hot socks out of the dryer every now and again?
• K.I.S.S, Keep it Simple Stupid – Probably one of the biggest things I’ve learned is to keep it simple, stupid. Instead of trying to bear hug your issues, or trying to tackle too many things at once. Simplify things. Take 1 big issue and chop it up into multiple smaller, easier to tackle problems. It’s ok to try and do things right(read:complicated) the first time you do something, but don’t beat your head over something for more than 10 minutes. Take a different approach, and for the love of sanity, Keep it simple stupid.
• Second level apartment. – When renting an apartment, take the second level. Yes, it’s a PITA moving in and out, with all the stairs, however there are 2 simple reasons for doing so. Your heating bill in the winter will be non-existent due to your neighbors, and it’ll keep away the critters(read:rats, snakes and burglers). Why? They’ll be to busy investigating your first floor neighbors.

Spending the past week mulling the decision to let my digital ozweegoville slip into the abyss, it only took an email stating that it would all be erased permanently for me to make up my mind.

It Stays.

My ozweegoville has so many memories for me. Over the years it’s been both a crutch and a curse and yet at the end of the day it still contains the chronicles of my life.

How can one let go such memories you’re probably asking yourself?

It’s easy. Within these digital walls lie many demons of mine. Many secrets and many chapters in my life. However, logic prevailed. I got to thinking if I were to leave this planet, via rapture, death or insanity, how would people remember me? How would anybody remember my legacy? Will I even have a legacy? What if aliens came down from the planet ozweegoville and wanted to see what was posted on the intertubes about their planet?

It’s all doubtful, but I’m optimistic(I know, it’s hard to tell right?)

I am really glad I didn’t let this go though in hindsight. My heart somewhat skipped a beat when I did decide to continue on and came here to post the good news and everything was missing. Everything.

My recollection of how ozweegoville came to be. Gone.

The day before I moved to Denver. Gone.

The day I graduated. Gone.

So what does it matter that I’ve not posted anything worthy in a while? That was rhetorical. I suppose it doesn’t matter. I’ve realized this the more and more I go through earlier posts. My goal from the get go involving my move to Denver was to seize the opportunities and the moments that were given to me. To seize the day.

Carpe Diem.

I don’t feel too horrible for not posting, as that’s what I’ve been doing, carpe diem, and the younger and in a few ways, wiser kc would have wanted it this way.

So know this. My ozweegoville isn’t going anywhere, and although I’m not writing, I’m enjoying(or at least trying) to live life to the fullest before the day I turn into daffodil fertilizer.

Until next time, Carpe Diem.

So without further ado, My Life To Date(M.L.T.D), in no particular

1. I have an amazing family.
2. *My parents have a photo of myself in the Louvre, me atop my father’s shoulders, while we are looking at the Mona Lisa. In true KC form, I’m asleep, with my head comfortably resting on my fathers head.
3. *I’ve been in Paris on the final day of the Tour ‘De France. In true KC form, I again was asleep, with my head comfortably resting on my fathers head.
4. I’ve been bit by more dogs then you can count. My right dimple was caused by a doberman pincher taking a chunk out of my cheek. Ironically, even today, I prefer dogs to cats.
5. I’ve camped to awaken to a foot of snow, sub zero tempatures, and in true KC form, I went back to sleep.
6. *I’ve lived in England.
7. *I’ve visited stone hendge. I put the * next to it, but I DO remember it(just not all of it). For example: we left a cooler that had rotten milk in it on the side of the road, and I can still remember the stench.
8. I’ve survived Stage 4 Hodkins Lymphoma. According to the American Cancer Society, 1 out of 15000 kids aged 10 and below get cancer(which is 0.0067%). Talk about luck. Now where is my lottery ticket?
9. I’ve been to the top of Pikes Peak, which is where Katharine Lee Bates wrote “America The Beautiful”. 14K+ feet above sea level, and my ears have yet to fully recover.
10. I’m trying to do my part in donating to the WWF for over a year now, on a monthly basis.
11. I’ve seen the Yankees play.
12. I’ve felt the tugging at the end of a fishing line on multiple occasions.
13. I’ve partaken MANY jet flyovers in the missing man formations after national anthems, probably one of the coolest, most patriotic things one can witness(ok, there are plenty of other patriotic things one can witness).
14. I’ve come within inches and seconds(literally) of rolling my vehicle off the side of a mountain.
15. Last night(7/17/09) I was so close to Brad Arnold, I could have picked his nose. Ok that’s gross. Let me rephrase that, I was so close I could see his nose. Ok, that too is a little gross. You get the point.
16. I’ve witnessed an African American voted into the White House, in which I voted for.
17. I also worked downtown during the DNC of ‘08, in which Obama gave his acceptance speech.
18. I’ve witnessed a city with it’s baseball team(the Rockies) go through the world series!(What a crazy atmosphere! It’s rocktober time baby!)
19. I’ve voted.
20. I’ve been stranded in a reservoir with a boat who’s engine died and was quickly approaching the damn.
21. I’ve seen an American flag the size of a football field.
22. I’ve ridden the Mind Eraser. <— Keep in mind, I’m afraid of heights and all things associated with death.
23. Turned my hatred into Love for Jesus.<– Pretty awesome.
24. I’ve seen the fray, single file, flobots, matt kearny  in concert all before they made it to the big stage.
25. *I’ve been to the grand canyon(even though I never actually “saw it” because I was at least 100 yards away from the edge at ALL times(See #21, Keep in mind, I’m afraid of heights and all things associated with death.)
26. My current record for an ice cream cone creation is at LEAST 8 inches WITHOUT falling off/out of the cone.
27. I’ve sat inside the cockpit of an fighter jet, and a helicopter, and also saw an F1-11 inside a hanger. Amazing sight.
28. I once had a drunk lady climb over my table at IHOP, squeeze in next to me, flirt with me, then have her husband also climb over the table, squeeze in next to me and offer me some crazy chip concoction that looked like throw-up, and then spill my soda all over me.
29. I’ve written code that is being used in 3 different companies concurrently as I write this.
30. I was #75 on the twitter bandwagon here in Denver Colorado.
31. I’ve seen rabbits being born!
32. I’ve witnessed abused,abandoned, left for dead dogs find love and in most cases a good home at the Haven in Lubbock TX.
33. I’ve been skiing!
34. I once crossed paths with Josh Blue while leaving my office building.
35. I went tubing the Boulder Creek! Awesome time!
36. I live in the USA.
37. I’ve sipped some crazy concoctions at IHOP in the wee hours of the morning. For example, Mixed all together, pankcake syrup(all types, maple, strawberry etc…), salt, pepper, sausage, mashed potatoes, pancakes, soda, water, eggs, and a few other disgusting ingredients.

Hmmmm, there are so many more ….. check back and I’ll keep updatin.

There is a saying, “One man’s A game, is another man’s C game”. Ok, so I just made that up, but what it means is that your best sometimes isn’t THE best and as an end result, you end up falling short of your objective. Be it in relationships. The woman of your dreams found another man with a faster flashier car, a bigger pocket book, bigger biceps … a bigger pen*cough* … I meant pen(you know, one of those cool pens that you can write with underwater and upside down, one of those pens?). I’m going to show my complete and utter dorkiness but I feel I must. For the sake of saving this inadequate blog post.

My favorite quote comes from Star Wars, the first one, yes, the one with Jar Jar(/shrug). They were underwater and I believe they were headed to Jar Jars home town when they were getting chased by this monster of a fish. This HUGE fish. No fish could possibly come close to the size of this thing, and right before this fish gobbles up their submarine as if it were a light snack, a bigger, badder BAMF came by and ate the bigger fish, allowing sadly, Jar Jar and the Jedi’s to escape.

I want to deviate from my post for just a moment.

• How much greater of a movie would Star Wars have been had they somehow figured out a way to kill Jar Jar 3 seconds after his character was first introduced?
• How much greater of a movie would Star Wars have been, had the jedi’s, after they were eaten and starting to digest, bust their way out of this BAMF’s stomach with their light sabers?

I digress.

Obi wan kenobi says, “There is always a bigger fish”. Amen Brother. Isn’t that the truth.

Its a philosophy I’ve always adhered to in my life, and it’s a philosophy that I try to keep in the back of my mind when I get defeated, when I bring my A game, and really, its somebody elses C game. It’s frustrating. However, it is a good learning experience, knowing that there is always a bigger fish. It keeps you going, for failure is the greatest motivator, and it helps to sharpen your A Game ….

Even if it’s just somebody’s C game at best.

Falling short while bringing your A game is one thing, falling short in general is a whole other beast.

I’ve recently realized that life is all about decesions, choices and calculated risks. Everything we do, everything we say, is all based on a decesion or a choice, that at one point or another was a calculated. The pros and cons all evaluated, and eventually the pros outweighed the con and eventually the calculated risk was worth it. Hell, even waking up in the morning and getting out of bed is a calculated risk. You could be struck by the proverbial bus going to work, or a piano could drop 30 floors above you. Getting out of bed in the morning IS a choice, and with it brings a calculated risk. That’s not to say that those things would be silly to even consider, simply because the risk is so small …. but every now and then there is a choice we make. A decesion. A calculated risk.

Perhaps it’s choice that we want back, or perhaps it’s the decesion we didn’t make that we wish we could redo. One has to think that risk was calculated when making the decesion. Right now, in this very moment anybody and everybody is debating a choice, regretting a decesion or calculating a particular risk.

I’m still learning though. My A game isn’t good enough to compensate for poor decesions and choices when the calculated risk 50/50, let alone a sure thing.

Your A game, no matter how great it may be, means nothing if you take too many calculated risks.

So while I keep re-reading this post, trying to digest my own advice, by the time I finish, Perhaps George Lucas will re-write star wars to kill off Jar Jar, and have the Jedi’s bust out of some BAMF’s stomach with their lightsabers and jedi kung-fu.

Here is to wishful thinking.

Cheers.

I apologise in advance. Understand that I haven’t blogged in a very long time, and the analogy that comes to mind is a waterhose that’s been kinked and is now being released.

Expect randomness. Nay, expect awesomeness.

You know, on second thought, just expect some randomness.

Wanting to blog everyday now(seriously, don’t laugh) for the past 6 months, I’ve been having an extremely difficult time putting pen to paper, or in this case fingers to keyboard. I’m not sure what it is. Lack of motivation perhaps? The inability to produce something noteworthy? Whatever the case may be, I’ve thought about blogging, alot. Thinking about doing something, and actually doing it are two separate beasts.

So what’s been going on with me? I moved. I know, pretty cool eh? You can head over to my flickr account to see some updated photos. My new place, although an extra 15 minute drive to work is a night and day difference from the dump I was at before. I’m very happy and proud to call my new apartment home. I have awesome neighbors. I live in a great location, and I can say without a doubt my living situation(and standards for that matter) have drastically improved. It’s amazing what a little motivation will do to get you to a better situation and at peace with yourself. Personally, I have my previous apartment complex’s management to thank for that.

Random Injection #1

My plant, alive and well!

Plants. I’ve never really been one to have plants, nor have I ever been the one to keep them alive but my new apartment currently has 3 of them! Better yet, they’ve been alive for the past 3 weeks! Whoa Nelly! I think a light switch flipped on when I realized they have their own 2 dimensional personalities. Happy or Sad. They let you know when they need water, and they let you know when they need more sunlight. One of my plants especially. It’s leaves get all droopy and you can just imagine it with a sad puppy dog look, saying “Please kc, just a little more water …. pretty please”.

So what else is new you ask? Well, not much. I did start a new job two or so months ago. Still doing the same thing as I was previously, but for a different company making better money. I realized that God has given me a gift regarding computers, and it’s because of that gift and that gift alone that I can finance my true passion which is exploring his playground. I show up to work, I enter my trance and I head home for the day. Longing for the weekend, longing for my next mental and physical vacation. My true passion which is to experience his playground.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my work. I love dealing with computers and I love programming. However, If I’m honest, I’m not truly happy until I leave the office and get outside. In my bucket list post, I put that I wanted to be a beat writer for the buffalo bills, however, at this point, I’d take just being a dead beat that can go play whenever I wanted!

Random Injection #2

Since I’ve lived at my new apartment, I make it a point to go for a walk when I come home in the evenings. It’s so nice and cool. Usually a breeze makes it’s way on over to my favorite bench on the planet. It’s on the golf course, and it’s about a 3 minute walk from my apartment, 7 if I end up chatting with my neighbors.

I usually will hop the fence, and so far, nobody has cared. I just sit there, watch the world go by and occasionally giggle at the golfers who shank their initial drives. I’ve seen quite a few mulligans to say the least. It’s very peaceful.

Now where was I?

Hmmmm …..

I’m not exactly sure which is probably a good indication I should wrap this up. I’ve posted quite a bit on my flickr page, and also  a new video of my Twin Cone adventure.

bon appetite!

By far, without a doubt my favorite direction to go. I’m not alone in this regard, even Buddhists believe heading west is the path towards enlightenment. The sun eventually makes it’s way towards west and on top of that, pioneers migrated and settled the west, and lets not forget how the west was won.

Regardless of it’s timeless connotations, I personally like the west because for me, in Denver, it means the mountains! I didn’t start until last year, my addiction for altitude, but it’s gaining and gaining, and with the great weather we’ve been experiencing, my addiction has started early! I promised myself last year that I would do more hiking, biking and camping by all accounts.

This year has started off on a good foot. Last weekend me and K went to hike with the puppies, and this weekend, the puppies and I went hiking. I’m pretty sure if I had it my way I’d go every weekend.
I am going to try a few things differently though. I recently bought a pack and my objective is to go hiking, then camp! I want to hike in, setup camp, catch up on some R&R and then pack up and then head out. I haven’t actually been yet, but my goal is to start off slow, and then go for it. My first time out, I’m going to “car” camp, using only what’s in my pack. Take notes of what I use, what I don’t use, rinse and repeat until I get it right and light! If your hiking 10 miles into the boonies, I figure I want it right and light! Anywho, I can’t wait!

**Off Topic, 3rd Rock from the sun is an incredibly underrated show.

I can’t wait and if I’m honest, it’s the only thing I’ve been able to focus on really. At home, at work it doesn’t matter. It’s all consuming. I’m not sure what it is. Is it the peace and quiet? Is it because for just a few hours the world seems to stand still? Or could it be that I just like going from the concrete jungle, to the jungle.

Regardless of what it is, I’m stoked. Bring on the adventure.

So here is the first part ………. ‘15 Things you probably didn’t know about me’

1. I’m anal retentive when it comes to ironing. I mean ANAL. Every morning for as long as I can remember I’ve always ironed my clothes. Even boxers and socks if need be. I know what your thinking, and the only thing I can say is pray for me.
2. Even after 15+ years of wearing an analog watch, If the dials are not on the 12, 3, 6 and 9 I still have to count the notches. I know, pretty ridiculous.
3. I have a plastic sandwich bag dated February 5th, 1995 full of my hair I pulled out while going through chemo. I know, gross. Freebie. I had a pick line placed in my arm with a small circular hole, and two more smaller holes where the stitches were. When my elbow is bent at 90 degrees, it looks like a smiley face and makes me chuckle every time I see it.
4. I can’t stand wearing regular T-Shirts. You’ll be hard pressed to find me wearing just a regular T-Shirt. 99.9999999999% of the shirts I wear have collars and are button-ups.
5. As a kid, I had dreams of being an Aeronautical Engineer. I still do, and as much as I hate *coughs* love computers, I think I’ll eventually have a second profession within my lifetime GOD willing.
6. I’m a 5 year old trapped in a 24 year old’s body.
7. When I smile, my right side dimple isn’t really a dimple but a scar I had when I was a kid. I was the victim of a serious dog bite that left a chunk of my cheek missing.
8. 9 times out of 10 mornings I awake only to think to myself ‘I wish I could just spend the day in the mountains instead of ‘ _________________.
9. Although I’ve worn contacts for 8 or so years, I still squirm a bit knowing I have to put my finger in my eyes.
10. In my ‘man purse’(read: my backpack that happens to go with me everywhere), I carry  my ipod, my phone, flint, an emergency blanket, a knife, a whistle, signaling mirror, waterproof matches, a compass, a lighter, and a stogy. You never know when your ever going to want to light up …. or …. be in an emergency situation
11. Not to pat my own back, but I am exceptional problem solver. The bigger the problem the better. My brain just works that way. On the other hand, don’t count on me to tie my shoes without complicating the situation.
12. I was told by a physic I was a fearless captain of a pirate vessel who once lost his entire crew to the likes of a vicious sea monster only to slay the beast by pure luck. Apparently he choked to death on my peg leg. Ok, so I wasn’t told all of that exactly … only that I was a sailor in my past life, which so happens to explain my love of the water and my ‘loaner’ characteristics. Freebie: I’ve actually never seen the ocean. I lived in England when I was a child, however, I don’t remember any of it. I also flew to Houston to see my sister once, but due to sun glare never saw the Gulf.
13. I love super heros. Any of the comic book charachters I love, and could tell you alot about them, but here’s the catch. I’ve never owned or read an actual comic book. Superman is the coolest in case your wondering. Wolverine a close second.
14. I’m a boring guy. Gee, really? Yes, really. So much so that I’m perfectly fine eating the same food day in and day out, and I can listen to the same song on repeat for hours on end, days even if it’s good enough, without ever needing to change the song. Freebie: I love music. It and it alone has the power to make me feel like a million dollars, or drop me to my knees in dispair. It’s envokes such powerful reactions from me. At work, you’ll always find me with a pair of headphones on, and 9 times out of 10, you’ll see I will have music going if I’m ever by myself. Also, you’ll notice just about all of my blogs have titles that are unrelated to my actual post. If you copy and paste them into google, usually it’s song lyrics. I can pinpoint exactly what I was doing when and where just by the music I remember listening to when I was blogging.
15. Even though I’m a big guy, my favorite excercise is to ride my bike. I could ride my bike 20+ miles and not even notice it. I’m not sure what it does, but it does something to me. A trance almost.

So there you have it. 15 things you probably didn’t know about me. Stay tuned, this is the first of a few part series……….

My main reason for posting(although I have many) was due in part to cross a partial item off my Bucket List! Item #9 was to learn to snowboard, so I’m going to have to amend the list. I didn’t learn to snowboard, but I DID go skiing! 6 Years of living in the Rockies I figured it was about time, and the opportunity arose. My goal is if it’s on my list, regardless of how daunting, to say yes and cross it off.

We headed up to Copper early Saturday morning and truth be told it was a pretty decent drive. The whole morning I was pretty sick to my stomach. Not due to the flue or cold, but I was pretty nervous. Everybody I had talked to in regards to hitting the slopes basically painted a nightmare of a picture. Broken ribs, a chance for my femur to be shoved through my nose, legs wrapped around my head. “Your going to hate it the first few times” everybody said, “Don’t buy any gear for a while until you get the hang of it”. In all my years of living here, I’ve heard the same ole same ole and it confused me. Why would anybody WANT to ski? If it sucks so bad the first few times, who’d be stupid enough to continue through with it? Plus, how expensive it is! All the gear needed, gloves, socks, pants, a good coat, and that’s just to be allowed onto the mountain. It’s a really expensive hobby to say the least.

From the highway you could see the mountain tops, and these specks that I later realized were ski lifts making their way to the tip top of the mountain. Oey. I’m afraid of heights too, did I mention that? Ok, perhaps I did, but did I mention that the “safety bar” is optional? Yes, no typo, optional. Insane. Coupled with the the thought that I’d have a yardsale or two in front of an entire ski resort. Well, sign me up! Sounds like an awesome time! Even better that I have to pay for it!

Fast forward a few hours and as tired as I was, I was enjoying myself. Tired? Skiing? Lets just say I snowplowed down copper mountain twice If you’ve never snowplowed, the best way I can describe it is if somebody is trying to push your legs together, and it’s up to you to push twice as hard against it, or you’ll rocket down the side of a mountain. Still not making sense? Imagine a thighmaster on it’s highest setting and you have to keep you thighs squeezed …. all the way down a mountain side. How long is a mountain side you ask? It took about 20 minutes to get to the very top going at a pretty steady speed.

At first I was a bit ballsy. I’d go wrecklessly try to stop, wipe, rinse and repeat. That of course changed over the course of time. Your body, I found out, can’t wipe too many times until it becomes painful. Another reason that changed my wrecklessness was going down in a pretty steep hill. I gained too much speed, became a bit wobbly, and headed straight for the tree line. I probably was only going 2 miles an hour, but it felt like I was going a hundred. I knew the concept of stopping, but putting a concept into practice is well, it’s useless it’s first time. Heading straight for the trees, I had no choice but to bail. Skii’s, poles, arms and legs scattered in all directions. It was a fall that made me just lay sprawled out in the snow, not wanting to move a muscle knowing I was but a minute away from the top of the mountain, with a bigger majority still left ahead of me.

I took it pretty easily from there on out.

I was asked by some co-workers if I’d do it again. It’s not a matter of if, but when. I’m thinking in two weeks or so when my limbs reattach themselves to my body properly, my muscles stop burning and my injuries obtained through my countless face plants wear off.

Skiing is a ton of fun, and the views despite my fear of heights were absolutely breathtaking. As for skiing, I’m not that good at it yet, but I do want to be “decent”. Then I’ll try snowboarding …. not because it’s cooler, or it’s hip, or anything like that. Primarily because I want to punch the inventor of the ski boot in the face and because carrying 2 poles, 2 ski’s and ski boots is fuggin ridiculous. I basically dragged my ski’s over the asphalt I was so exhausted. &^%$ them, they were rentals

I’m lazy. What can I say?

1. Bury my feet with the incoming and outgoing tide of the ocean(the gulf doesn’t count. I’m talking Atlantic/Pacific).
2. Touch a dolphin. Nay, did I say touch? I meant kiss.
3. Watch the Buffalo Bills win a SuperBowl.
4. Drive a vehicle 200mph+, or own a Corvette. Either will do.
5. I want to spend enough time in the boonies to write an autobiography.
6. Learn to flyfish.
7. Run a mile in under six minutes …. when I’m 45 years old or older, ok at any age from here on out.
8. Go offroading in Moab.
9. Learn to Ski & SnowBoard.
10. Pull 10 people’s cars out of the side of the road during a blizzard.
11. Play *and* BEAT all of the Final Fantasy series(minus online).
12. Go Deep Sea Fishing. Preferably with my pops.
13. Go on a super scary roller coaster, like the mind eraser.
14. Visit the FJ Summit in Ouray Colorado for a week.
15. Be employed by the Buffalo Bills to be a beat writer.
16. Read the entire Bible, front to back.
17. Learn a foreign language.
18. Fire a Bazooka, I mean really fire a bazooka.
19. Learn to Scuba Dive.
20. Go to a 3 Doors Down Concert(Ok, I’ve already done this, but it was something I wanted to do for many, many years now).
21. Go on a cruise.
22. See the running of the Bulls.
23. Travel to see USA play in a World Cup somewhere, on a side note, I’ll settle to be able to watch USA actually WIN a world cup in my lifetime.
24. Ride in an Apache Helicopter.
25. Own my own home.
26. Be a Ping Pong master.

This list will be updated often, so check back often!